Multi-bagger linear organizer

Abstract

An apparatus for organizing containers in a linear organizer apparatus is disclosed. The linear organizer apparatus includes an input transport mechanism and a funneling transport mechanism. The input transport mechanism is configured to receive at least one container. The funneling transport mechanism includes a left conveyor belt and a right conveyor belt each having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end of the left conveyor belt is in close proximity to the lower end of the right conveyor belt, forming a v-shape configured to guide the container to an exit.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A linear organizer apparatus for a bagger system, the linear organizer apparatus comprising:
 an input transport mechanism configured to receive at least one container; and   a funneling transport mechanism including a left conveyor belt and a right conveyor belt each having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the left conveyor belt is in close proximity to the lower end of the right conveyor belt, and the left conveyor belt and the right conveyor belt form a v-shape configured to guide the at least one container to an exit.   
     
     
         2 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input transport mechanism is a conveyor belt. 
     
     
         3 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the v-shape created by the left conveyor belt and the right conveyor belt is configured to orient the at least one container to lie parallel to the funneling transport mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bumper rod affixed above the left conveyor belt and the right conveyor belt configured to guide the at least one container towards the lower ends of the left conveyor belt and the right conveyor belt. 
     
     
         5 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fin located between the lower ends of the left conveyor belt and the right conveyor belt configured to guide the at least one container along the funneling transport mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second funneling transport mechanism including a second left conveyor belt and a second right conveyor belt configured to receive the at least one container from the funneling transport mechanism, wherein each of the second left conveyor belt and second right conveyor belt has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the second left conveyor belt is in close proximity to the second lower end of the right conveyor belt, and the second left conveyor belt and the second right conveyor belt form a v-shape configured to guide the at least one container to the exit. 
     
     
         7 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exit is configured to direct the at least one container from the funneling transport mechanism to a transport tube or an infeed loop apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exit is configured to direct the at least one container from the funneling transport mechanism to a tote elevator. 
     
     
         9 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one tote dumper including at least one tote configured to release at least one container onto the input transport mechanism, the at least one tote dumper having a holding position and a dropping position. 
     
     
         10 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the tote dumper comprises:
 a supporting member including at least one hole;   a dowel coupled to a motor, the dowel threaded through the at least one hole of the supporting member;   the motor configured to rotate the dowel; and   at least one arm member configured to hold the at least one tote.   
     
     
         11 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein in the holding position the at least one arm member supports the at least one tote such that the container held within the at least one tote does not fall out of the at least one tote, and in the dropping position the motor is configured to rotate the dowel about a horizontal axis such that the container held within the at least one tote falls out of the at least one tote. 
     
     
         12 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the input transport mechanism is a conveyor belt with cleats, each cleat containing the at least one container located in each at least one tote. 
     
     
         13 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one tote is configured to receive and hold at least one container while the at least one tote dumper is in the holding position. 
     
     
         14 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one tote is configured to release the at least one container and remain on the tote dumper while the at least one tote dumper is in the dropping position. 
     
     
         15 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one tote receives the at least one container from a container routing mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the container routing mechanism is a mechanical arm. 
     
     
         17 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one tote is routed to the at least one tote dumper by a transport mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the transport mechanism is a conveyor belt. 
     
     
         19 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the transport mechanism is a tote elevator. 
     
     
         20 . The linear organizer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one scanner is configured to read bar codes on the at least one container, the at least one scanner being further configured to:
 read container information located on an outer surface of the at least one container, and   determine whether the container information matches container information located in a fulfillment database.